Sunday, February 17, 2013

"The most serious risk of rapid cycling bipolar disorder is suicide. People with bipolar disorder are 10 times to 20 times more likely to commit suicide than people without bipolar disorder. Tragically, 8% to 20% of people with bipolar disorder eventually lose their lives to suicide.

People with rapid cycling bipolar disorder are probably at even higher risk for suicide than those with nonrapid cycling bipolar disorder. They are hospitalized more often, and their symptoms are usually more difficult to control long term.

Treatment reduces the likelihood of serious depression and suicide. Lithium in particular, taken long term, reduces the risk.

People with bipolar disorder are also at higher risk for substance abuse. Nearly 60% of people with bipolar disorder abuse drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse is associated with more severe or poorly controlled bipolar disorder."

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

I have never before had a winter like this. Days upon days of snowing, walking through silent flurries with my boyfriend, staring after dogs playing in the snow...all while the weather app on my phone reminds me of 80-degree days in Miami.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

These bracelets are a memorial to Raven Ashley Rud, who passed away from metastatic brain cancer earlier this year. They were made with love to honor her upcoming birthday on December 21.

They are faux suede, and they come in pink (a color Raven loved) and purple (one of her school's colors) or in all black. They feature a small wooden purple heart and a small silver raven charm. 100% of profits will be donated to Stand Up to Cancer, a foundation which works to accelerate innovative cancer research.